HELP, silky hatched, should I take it?

[Maryallison]

Ok....I have 1 silky hen and 1 silky rooster in my rabbit barn. Will the rooster kill my newly hatched silky baby??? I am prepaired with a brooder to take it if I need to. Or will mama protect it? I am in Florida so cold temps are not a problem.

 

[berkeleysprings]

keep the big girls and boys away as they might peck or step on the baby

 

[chicklady63]

Unfortunately, some roosters, (and even some hens), will kill new babies and young chicks - usually not the chick's mother though in case I made you wonder about that. You have to watch and make a judgment call on it. Is your rooster usually a docile sort? Does he seem aware that there's a baby about? Does Mom seem protective when he comes near to investigate? Sometimes better safe than sorry, I say.
BTW - I've heard that rabbits will kill chickens. Do you have some in with yours where they could get at them or in separate cages? Just thought I'd mention that.

 

[KellyHM]

Although some roos will hurt babies, mine leaves them completely alone and even feeds them like he does the hens. It just depends on the roo.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

I divide my pen with hardware cloth so the flock can see and get used to the babies. That way momma can raise them in peace for the first month and I don't need to worry. Even though there is a heavy screen between them, ever time I open the pen to check on them, my roo Seis comes in to make sure I am not there to cause harm.

 

[Maryallison]

Thanks everyone! I am gonna go fetch my new chick! Sunny the Silky was only sitting on 2 eggs. Now we are waiting to see if the other hatches! Sumpter the Silky is on me like white on rice everytime I go to look at the new mama and baby. He seems a bit too interested if you ask me. I hope the other egg hatches so the chick isn't lonely!

 

[Maryallison]

Hi there Majestic Farm. We plan on making some modifications to the coop area soon with seperate coops for different kinda of chickens. But I just wasn't ready yet!

chicklady63 Sumpter the silky is not docile.....We are gonna go get the brooder...

 

[LoveMyBirds]

Quote:
I was also wondering what would happen.. (I kept them in house for a few days until they got around good)

This is what happened with my Silver Pheonix this year after I let her out on the free range with the others..
The roosters ran over and started scratching around like momma then eventually went their own way..

I also have turkeys and thought this might be bad as well, but to my surprise the turkeys just looked around..

BUT.. it might be different with different type chickens..